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LeBron James returns to practice ahead of season opener

Written BySteven J. Gaither

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Derrick Rose isn't the only former NBA MVP trying to get ready for Tuesday's season opener.

Cavs forward LeBron James returned to practice Sunday after missing two weeks to receive an anti-inflammatory injection in his back. James said sitting out following the shot was something planned, and that he wouldn't hesitate to do it again in the regular season if it benefited his team in the long term.

"But it's always been in the works, and if it happens again where I need to sit down for another week for the better of the team, then (that will be) in the works as well," James said, via ESPN.

James sat out 13 games last season after receiving the same shot. Now 30, James averaged a career-low 36.1 minutes per game last season, leading some to question whether the four-time MVP was slowing down. He said he looks forward to proving that he's far from finished.

"There's a lot of questions about my health and about my durability and things like that over the last couple weeks," James said. "So it's just all about my mind frame and how I approach the game and how I approach practices and how I approach my team when we go out there.